Abstracts

Submitted by Rhea Amatya, Colorado State University

Can the SASSY Survey Guide Climate-Animal Health Communication in Veterinary

Clinics?

Rhea Amatya1, Kelly Greenhut1 , Cat Taylor Krouse1, Caroline Kern-Allely2, Danielle

Scott2, Kim Hillyer1 , Colleen Duncan1,3*

1 College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University,

Fort Collins, CO

2 Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical

Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO

3 Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, College of Veterinary

Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO

 

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Effective client communication in veterinary medicine requires understanding audience

perspectives and values. Previous research suggests that many veterinary clients care

about environmental sustainability, but little is known about their specific attitudes

toward climate change or how they prefer to receive health-related information. In

Colorado, recent studies have identified significant environmental hazards affecting both

human and animal health, including heat stress, air quality, and wildfires, highlighting

the need for veterinary professionals to address these risks in client communication.

The Six Americas Super Short SurveY (SASSY) is a validated four-question survey

developed by the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication to categorize

individuals based on climate change beliefs and engagement into one of six groups:

Alarmed, Concerned, Cautious, Disengaged, Doubtful, or Dismissive. This study used

the SASSY to assess veterinary clients’ climate attitudes and identify communication

preferences to inform development of climate and pet health resources. The survey

included the four SASSY questions, as well as additional questions about preferred

receipt of information. Most client respondents were categorized as Alarmed or

Concerned on the SASSY scale, indicating high engagement with climate issues.

Respondents expressed strong interest in resources connecting environmental hazards

to pet health and preferred receiving information via scientific journals and social media.

These findings suggest that veterinary clients are receptive to communication and

resources linking pet health to climate-related environmental hazards. The tool proved

feasible and informative, and we encourage veterinary practices to consider SASSY as

a practical method for understanding client climate perspectives and guiding

clinic-specific communication strategies.

Caption This Contest

Photo Submitted by Yesenia Corona, St. George's University

Caption Submitted by Caroline O'Rourke, University of Pennsylvania 

"trying to do flashcards at bedtime but you're dozing off"

Cutest Pet

Submitted by Sydney Long, Iowa State University

Creative Corner

Submitted by Heather Sayles, Michigan State University

Experiences

Submitted by Kristen Tan, Ross University

My name is Kristen Tan and since working with a holistic veterinarian back home for over

3 years, I have been interested in acupuncture and integrative medicine. I have seen firsthand

how rewarding the effects of acupuncture can be and wanted to be able to provide this modality

for my future patients well. When I got into Ross University, I already knew that I wanted to enroll

in the program that Chi University offered to Rossies. It is a year-long course that combines online

learning with a few in-person wet labs, split up into 5 sessions total. After completing the

prerequisites of Gross Anatomy I and II, I enrolled and also became the Ross Acupuncture

Ambassador for Chi University in 2025. Most of the wet labs were done on Ross’ campus itself,

but the Session 5 wet labs were specifically done at Chi University’s campus because it included

the acupoint exam as well. I spent 3.5 days there going over all the acupuncture points and

TCVM theories we’ve learned throughout the year while meeting other CVA students from other

vet schools. Below is a break down of what I did each day:

December 16, 2025 (Day 1)

After registering with the Chi staff, we spent the morning reviewing everything we learned

from Sessions 1-4 with Dr. Terri Rosado. It helped reinforce everything we needed to know for the

written exam. During the lunch hour, we ate then got a tour of their small animal hospital. The

design of the hospital incorporated so many fear-free things and even had a zen garden for

clients. There was a whole physical therapy ward that included a water treadmill, obstacles, and

other modalities. Their large animal hospital had several stalls and included a whole arena for

trotting and dressage. In the afternoon, we reviewed acupoints for 4.5 hours with Dr. Shu Dai and

Dr. Suzy Brannan. We worked on clients’ dogs and practiced doing our TCVM exam. This includes

a tongue assessment, feeling their femoral pulses in 6 different areas, assessing mentation (Shen

in TCVM), and palpating acupoints and assessing for any reactions. Afterwards, we had a class

dinner with the founder, Dr. Xie, and everyone got to know each other a little bit more.

December 17, 2025 (Day 2)

This entire day was going over all the acupoints from head to tail with snack breaks in

between. There are a total of 361 points in the small animal, but we are only responsible for 185

of them. It includes both transpositional and classical points.

December 18, 2025 (Day 3)

In the morning, we went over 2 cases with live dogs. It included taking a history with the

client, performing a TCVM exam, and treating the patient after making a TCVM diagnosis. In the

afternoon, we went over the acupoints with our instructors once more.

December 19, 2025 (Exam Day)

Everyone was assigned a time to come in to take their acupoint exam. I was given 20

random points to identify on a live dog in under 10 minutes. I passed and celebrated with

everyone. Chi provided cake and tea.